[CamelBackCinema]

Hi, I am a sound fanatic. I play guitar and piano, play in a band, write music, listen to music, and just love good sound quality.

Before I go off to college, I am planning to buy a new computer for school purposes, but mostly for gaming and recording purposes.

I am wondering what headphones you would recommend with an audigy 2 or soundblaster live! 5.1 digital sound card? Does sound card quality affect headphone quality? I was thinking I could save 100 dollars if I really didn't need to upgrade the card. But yet, I want the perfect sound experience.

I have been researching a couple of headphones and really seem to like the senn hd580, 600. The hd580s are recommended a lot across this board. The 600 are one of the top phones and they seem to be worth the price. I recently got to listen to some grados and senns from an old recording studio owned by a friend's dad and the senns sound perfectly to me.

I am wondering what headphones you would recommend for the two soundcards mentioned. I am open to any range of price below 500

Thanks

 

[CamelBackCinema]

I just wanted to add, that I love all kinds of music across the board. Classical I do like, and I do take into consideration which headphones are made for different types of music.

 

[Gluegun]

First of all, you need to upgrade from a Live 5.1.

If you are into primarily games, Get an Audigy 2 (Either OEM or retail). If you want to do dvd's, mp3's, recording, mixing, playing, or anything other than games, consider an M-Audio Revolution.

Second, decide if you wish to invest in a dedicated headphone amplifier to power your headphones.

Then, decide if you need any isolation from outside noise, or if sound leaking so nearby people hear it is a problem..

 

[wallijonn]

if you listen to CDs on the computer, be ready for clicks and pops as windows open / close, alerts are sent, etc.

for gaming, there are the usual suspects: A900, DT831, HD590, DT531, DT770, V6, CD3000, A1000, W1000, A9X, HD280, HF650, HP910, any Grado, CD1700, ...

CamelBackCinema (Phoenix, Camelback?), you will not get the perfect headphone experience with a computer. There's too much electrical noise within a computer. Someone here is using a DAC with his computer (hopefully he'll chime in, soon. Grinch, maybe?)

 

[CamelBackCinema]

Do soundcards act as amps?

 

[bangraman]

I use a DAC going either to an amp or a mixing console, and it's a better experience although I don't listen to music on my PC that often... The DAC is used mainly for gaming audio. But by no means is sound from the soundcard alone absolutely abysmal... It's listenable, but there are other extraneous noises which get added in. The soundcard does have an amp (otherwise you won't be able to hear anything

) but it is fairly low power. Sennheiser HD580's and 600's will work, but nowhere near their best.


Im not sure what your budget is but an amp is more or less mandatory if you're set on the 580/600. If not, I would recommend something easily driven. I'm sure lots of other people can chime in with recommendations on that point.

 

[MusicLover]

EDIT